Another student who witnessed Wednesday’s massacre called out lawmakers on TV, looking directly into the camera & saying: “We’re children. You guys are the adults. You need to take some action & play a role. Work together, come

(Friday, Feb 16. 2018 12:30 AM)

over your politics, & get something done.” He added: “Ideas are great but without action, ideas stay ideas and children die.” https://goo.gl/X3UP58

Research suggests that as a means of keeping its viewers engaged & watching, YouTube systematically amplifies videos that r divisive/sensational/conspiratorial. And a new study by the Guardian also shows YouTube gave a 6-to-1

(Wednesday, Feb 7. 2018 10:42 AM)

preference2 Trump in 2016 w/o even a hint of RU manipulation, just American profiteering. Wherever u started, whether from a Trump or a Clinton search, the autoplay recommendation algorithm was likely 2push u in a pro-Trump direction. The more than 150M YouTube users in the US watched billions of such politically skewed videos, which undoubtedly had a lot of impact, particularly on those who had not yet made up their mind. https://goo.gl/mqtmUs

Devin Nunes & other Repubs are claiming the FISA law was misused to listen to communication from the Trump campaign, just 2 weeks after the House & Senate – including Devin Nunes – voted to reauthorize & expand the FISA surveillance authority. https://goo.gl/HPrtQGhttps://goo.gl/4naiHb

In a 08/25/13 letter obtained by Time, former T campaign adviser Carter Page bragged he was an Kremlin advisor. The ltr reads “Over the past 1/2yr, I have had the privilege 2serve as an informal advisor 2the staff of the Kremlin in prep

(Sunday, Feb 4. 2018 01:46 AM)

4their Presidency of the G-20 Summit next mo…”. So much 4the Nunes memo that implies the FBI improperly based its req4 FISA eavesdropping solely on the Steele dossier while Steele was working4 Dems. Fact is Page had long ago made himself a person of interest2 govt spooks, though perhaps Steele’s rpt did heighten attention 2the fact that Page was now tightly connected w/the Trump campaign. Good job Trump w/that extreme vetting (but then we all know extreme T’s extreme vetting is merely dogwhistle code that means immigrants will be screened4 whiteness). http://goo.gl/cKH2Vj

The NFL recently ruled that the Oakland Raiders complied with the Rooney Rule ahead of the official announcement that Jon Gruden was to be their next head coach. Now Mike Freeman of Bleacher Report says he’s hearing the league went

(Wednesday, Jan 24. 2018 07:41 AM)

easy on Oakland because it wants the Raiders to sign Colin Kaepernick. It is a logical move that might help2 inspire some of the local Oakland fanbase 4a couple more yrs until the team moves to Las Vegas. I hope it somehow works out. Unfortunately signing doesnt nec mean a real shot at playing & Kap’s game isnt one that ages well. https://goo.gl/efwV9b

A Tesla Model S, traveling 65MPH, crashed into the rear of a stationary fire truck working the scene of a freeway accident in Culver City, CA. A pattern is beginning 2emerge w/such vehicles. Turns out current semi-autonomous

(Wednesday, Jan 24. 2018 02:30 AM)

vehicles have difficulty detecting/responding2 unexpected stationary objects that are initially hidden by traffic, excessive sunshine glare, etc. The manuals 4these vehicles warn drivers 2remain attentive & prepared 2respond2 such objects, but the vehicles otherwise lull drivers into distraction. Personally I find even the ubiquitous cruise control creates a similar hazard & I only use it if traffic is light. http://goo.gl/iQBeYn

The FBI is investigating if a RU banker illegally funneled money 2the NRA in order to help T campaign. FBI has focused on the activities of Alexander Torshin, the deputy governor of RU’s central bank who is known 4his close

(Friday, Jan 19. 2018 02:04 AM)

relationships w/both Putin & NRA. Torshin was also seen speaking w/Trump Jr during a NRA gala in May 2016, when T got NRA’s endorsement. The NRA spent $30M to support T in the election – 3X what they spent on Mitt Romney. Most of that was money was spent by an arm of the NRA that is not req 2 disclose its donors. It is illegal to use foreign money to influence federal elections. https://goo.gl/j4URpf

A huge question re Michael Wolff’s provocative-yet-sloppy book is: How did he get so much access? Wolff apparently was able2 inhabit the West Wing 4 an extended period while collecting blockbuster quotes & assembling juicy anecdotes

(Thursday, Jan 18. 2018 02:57 AM)

that show the WH as inept/confused/amateurish. Wolff initially gained T trust by criticizing T coverage in the press. Wolff then worked his way into the WH by pitching he was writing a book titled: The Great Transition: The First 100 Days of the T Admin. During W’s visits he conducted himself w/assurance, playing up his relationship with T, telling ppl he’d known T a long time & that T called him /the best/. Nobody until John Kelly thought2 question W’s motives/presence. https://goo.gl/x7Nw1a

Today, on the MLK Jr holiday, Jorge Garcia, a 39yr-old landscaper from Lincoln Park, MI was deported to MX – despite having a spotless legal & tax record and a wife & 2 children – all of whom are US citizens. Mr Garcia is too old to

(Monday, Jan 15. 2018 11:38 PM)

qualify4 DACA, though it appears he would otherwise qualify. Whatever happened2 law enforcement &/or our court sys practicing discretion? Now it’s all about the total enforcement actions taken – govt agents, prosecutors, & increasingly r courts check their brains at the door. Meanwhile the racist/heartless Trump spent the day on 1 of his golf courses – which in & of itself makes a powerful statement compared 2prev Presidents. Despicable. https://goo.gl/hPcZXs

John V Tunney, US congressman & senator from CA who was once hailed 4his Kennedy­esque manner & whose 1970 Senate campaign inspired the Oscar-winning film “The Candidate” starring Robert Redford, died in LA on Jan 12 of prostate

As of 01/2018, China is refusing 2handle much of the West’s recycling anymore. China had been processing (or at least disposing of) at least 1/2 of the world’s waste paper/metals/plastic exports — 7.3M tons in 2016. China’s new ban

(Friday, Jan 12. 2018 03:57 AM)

covers imports of 24 kinds of solid waste, inc unsorted paper & low-grade PET plastic bottles. China also set new limits on impurity levels in other recyclables. Excess supply has caused the value of recycled feedstock 2 decline in recent yrs & reprocessing impure/mixed material is often not economical. China also says lrg amts of dirty/hazardous waste r often mixed in recycled material & this pollutes their enviro. https://goo.gl/Zt8iuY

The GOP tax bill will lower taxes for 95% of Americans in 2018, but within a decade 53% of Americans will pay more in taxes under the plan with 82.8% of the bill’s benefit going 2the top 1%.

(Tuesday, Dec 19. 2017 07:03 PM)

In 2018, the highest earners on avg will recv a larger tax cut than those making less. Those earning between $49,000 and $86,000 will receive an average cut of about $900, or roughly 1%. Those earning more than $733,000 would receive a cut of about $51,000, or roughly 6.9%. https://goo.gl/rHc16d

The Repub tax bill changes from a worldwide tax sys, which requires US companies 2pay US taxes on all their profits regardless of where it was earned, 2something called a territorial tax sys, under which co(s) don’t owe taxes 2the

(Tuesday, Dec 19. 2017 06:13 PM)

US govt on income /made/ offshore. More than ever, lrg business will juggle books 2show all profits r earned offshore. Such tax shenanigans also gives lrg business a competitive advantage over sml business who r not equipped 2undertake such machinations. Also, the new territorial tax sys will mean lrg business will no longer owe ANY tax if they repatriate /foreign/ earnings earned from this point forward. Thus while lrg business will show profits as earned abroad, the profits can still be sent here – where likely the profits were really earned. http://goo.gl/EwyxEx